Patience - Jan. 20, 2014

This week has been all about patience.  

As anyone who has lived with me for an extended period of time knows that I have a rather fiery temper (I would like to take this time and apologize to my sisters, especially Sabrina, as I feel like she took the brunt of my harsh words). But guess yelling at someone loudly (namely a companion) is not something that is accepted at the MTC, which is a place of love (much to my chagrin).  Well this week my Mitarbeiter discovered my short fused personality.  If you have not heard my Mitarbeiter is a wanderer.  Everywhere he goes he has to look at everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He told me he couldn’t stay with me because he, "likes to mosey." (That is literally a direct quote.) I have always walked with a purpose at usually at rather a brisk pace so this mean I often lose my Mitarbeiter, and when I do I will call out, "Wo Bist Du!" or "Where Are You!" in Deutsche. Well this swiftly became the joke of our Zone and all the Elders were saying that was all the German I knew.  Well I am kind of a pride person so this rather upset me.  My comp realized this and began literally running away from me so I would have to chase him just to get a rise out of me.  So yes I became angry.  Well after being chastised by my Teachers, Zone Leaders and almost every Elder from my zone, I had had enough.  For lack of a better term I became rather "short" with my companion to the point where I raised my voice and told him off.  Now, it wasn't as bad as I make it sound but as far as the MTC goes I looked like a Drill Sergeant chewing out one of his privates.  Well I just felt awful, so I apologized and I began to pray and pray and pray and when I would think I couldn't pray anymore... I would say another prayer. And slowly but surely with every prayer my patience grew and the love for my companion grew and guess WHAT?!?!?!?!? HE WOULD actually start talking to me like a normal person and I began to understand why he was a mosier and how I could relate to him.  And now we are the best of friends even though He won't let me sing Michael Jackson for some weird reason (but I do any ways). :)  So yes that was my week German is coming slowly and It is hard but no one said a mission is suppose to be easy.  

Also the food here does a number on your intestines. I hate it.  But I have also realized through prayer that this food is inspired.  Because when I am out in the field eating pickled herring salad or blood sausage, I can just say to myself, "hey! At least you’re not eating those horrible sweet potato tater tots that have been cooked in pig fat a month before they are served to us missionaries."  So yes patience.... In ALL things.

But on a happy note, I AM SINGING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I auditioned and I got TWO meeting and they told me to come audition AGAIN!!!! Because they like me so much! (Tender Mercies? I THINK YES!!!!) So yea I am happy and loving it :)

Tchuss!

Elder Nilson